Top 5 Hits 2014

Anyone who reads this blog regularly will know that I could easily have compiled a separate, top 5 skirts hits alone, but I’ve tried to add a little more variety in here than that. It’s not (always) all about the skirts 😉

First up had to be my Galloping Horses dress. This was probably the first dress I made that felt totally me and was pretty, well made. I’ve worn it lots and still feel very proud of it.

Next up up had to be the Megan (Love At First Stitch, Tilly and the Buttons) that fitted! I felt like I’d truly mastered knits by this pattern. It’s super comfy and can be worn both casually and more dressed up, so versatile too.

Thirdly, the best thing that came out of my stash-diet: my tweed top. Another item that really does get worn lots and doesn’t feel home-made at all (I’m wondering if I’ll stop feeling like this at some point, I guess when my skills finally catch up to my enthusiasm).

Well, I managed three before a skirt got a look in 😉 Not too bad for me! Fourthly, it had to be my navy blue, linen Ginger (Colette patterns), possibly my favourite me-make ever 🙂

My surprise hit of the year had to be my 70s Clemence (Love At First Stitch, Tilly and the Buttons). I think it was feeling guilty for causing me such pain to make, but it’s been worn lots and lots. It’s easy to wear in both Summer and Winter, so maybe that’s why it’s become such a favourite. And it even gets compliments! Now, I never imagined that would happen :-). Lastly (and yes, I can count ), I’ve snook in my black, linen Delphine (Love At First Stitch, Tilly and the Buttons). This is the most magically slimming skirt ever (high, narrow waist combined with the colour black?), I’ve been asked many times whilst wearing it if I’ve lost weight, which of course never fails to make me smile. Although anyone of a similar height and build would know it’s pretty easy to ‘look’ like I’ve gone up or down a size, depending on how high my heels are and what I’m wearing, pretty much overnight…

I loved that my hits list took more deliberation than my misses! I must be getting somewhere. Or maybe the misses are more firmly ‘burnt’ in my mind…

Thanks again to Gillian of craftingrainbow.wordpress.com for hosting 🙂

 

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The Winter Ginger

When it came to packing away my Summer clothes a while back, the item that I knew I would miss the most was my lovely, navy, linen Ginger, see here. Seriously, this skirt has never let me down 🙂 When I unearthed this navy, cord material from my stash (still going at it…), there was only one pattern worth considering… I give you the Winter Ginger!

I was a little wary of using a much thicker fabric with zero stretch, so I allowed myself 3/8″ instead of 5/8″ seam allowance. I was keen not to put too much pressure on the zip, as I think was the problem with my first Ginger, see here. This seemed to work well, and the fit turned out perfectly.

There’s not much more to say about this. I followed the pattern as before, opting this time for the curved waistband. I do love Colette patterns: they’re extremely clear, easy to follow and I love the ‘neatness’ of their booklets 🙂

I’ve a feeling this make will look a little dull on here, but when I opened my wardrobe door to find something to wear with it, the options were endless. I seriously think this skirt will go with my entire wardrobe and that makes me happy, as I know it’ll get worn loads 🙂

 

 

 

OWOP Week 2014

My pattern of choice for OWOP had to be Colette’s Ginger skirt. I now have four versions of this skirt, see here, here, here and here. My denim version is pretty casual, (and quite frankly not in the best condition, see here. I’ve patched it up, but realistically I need to make a new one). The other three are good, smart-casual wears, that could be dressed up a little for work, or down a little for weekend and off-duty wear. It’s been a pretty busy week, but at least the sun shone…

Saturday– At my son’s birthday party. As you can see, he had a creepy crawly theme! I’m wearing my denim Ginger with a Banana Republic t-shirt, and am accompanied by a bearded dragon and a leopard chameleon! Yes, this week I even have animals! As you can see from the expression on my face though, I was clearly more comfortable with some of these than others. My son and his friends had a fab time 🙂

Sunday– At a park in nearby Knutsford, wearing my favourite, navy, linen Ginger with FC blouse and a Boden cardigan. Not the best of photos, but there’s an owl, kind of…

Monday– At work, so clearly needed to look a touch smarter. I’m wearing my green Ginger (aka ‘the snooker table skirt’, which never fails to make me smile), with a River Island blouse and a Hobbs jacket. Usual location 😉

Tuesday– Another work day, wearing my navy, linen Ginger for the second time with a Monsoon blouse and Linea (H of F) jacket.

Wednesday – My day off: kids to school, gym, hairdressers, kids back from school and general errands. Much though I love this version of the skirt (worn with River Island blouse and Monsoon cardigan), it’s seriously on its last legs. It’s also a fraction too short if I’m honest. I really need to make myself a new one of these.

Thursday– Back to work again. I’m wearing my spotted Ginger with Linea blouse and Hobbs jacket. Not entirely convinced this is a ‘work’ skirt, hence my attempts to smarten it up with a jacket. Please excuse rubbish ‘selfie’, no family available to cajole into taking photos.

Friday – Final day of the challenge. I had to end on my favourite: my navy blue, linen Ginger, worn here with a Hobbs top and M and S jacket.

 

I really enjoyed this challenge, thank you Jane for hosting 🙂 When I took part in MMMay earlier this year, I managed one handmade item ‘every other week day’. I’ve clearly made a fair amount of new items since then (and they’ve got a whole lot neater). Granted, I wouldn’t normally wear the same skirt pattern all week, and I was itching to pull out a dress or at least a different kind of skirt by Thursday but I did it, I wore me-made items every day for a whole week! 🙂

Lessons learnt?

My navy, linen Ginger (which I already knew was my favourite), was also my most versatile. It got worn three times easily.

I’m clearly comfortable wearing one me-made item at a time, carefully blended with well-made RTW items. I’m guessing that as I get more skilled, I’ll feel confident to wear more than one piece at a time.

I also clearly have a work ‘uniform’ that I wasn’t really aware of until now: skirt, cream or white blouse, fitted jacket and Clarks heels. Exaggerated this week clearly, but still, who knew?

I need a new denim Ginger.

Boy, do I love this design! Far from stopping at four, I’m already looking forward to making some Winter-appropriate versions…